If I could be semi-retired, . . . I would do it to get out of the house and lift weights. As long as the expenses were covered, I wouldn't mind.

That was more or less the idea. I was going to do it because it was something I enjoyed. However, since I already appear to be in early retirement (unemployed for most of the last 3 years), it may actually become more of a business venture if I ever build up the courage to try it (would like to see the economy improve a little first).

Mine are the Super Heavy. They came in on Friday and I tried for several hours and could only get them about a half inch above my elbow. When I bent my arm, my elbow would come out from under them. On Friday with my wife's help, I got them on for a max effort bench attempt. After i laid down on the bench I yelled at her to hurry and give me a lift off because my hands were already starting to tingle and minor numbness was already setting in. I want them to be tight, I would just like to be able to wear them for more than 1 set without having to take them off since they are so hard to get on. I'd also like to be able to put them on without any help. I tried turning them wrong side out and then trying to flip them to get them on, but they were too tight.

yours are tight like a good bench shirt then. mine are a little looser- and the heavy instead of super heavy. you should be able to stretch them enough for that, just make sure you don't go too much and make them lose their effectiveness.

Originally Posted by dumb.bell

That was more or less the idea. I was going to do it because it was something I enjoyed. However, since I already appear to be in early retirement (unemployed for most of the last 3 years), it may actually become more of a business venture if I ever build up the courage to try it (would like to see the economy improve a little first).

that's what i've always wanted to do. make it like a lifting club- if you could get enough members to cover rent and maintenance/utilities, that would be about perfect.

"If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." -Thomas Paine

[]---[]Equipment Crew Member No.3[]---[]
()---() York Barbell Club #2 ()---()

yours are tight like a good bench shirt then. mine are a little looser- and the heavy instead of super heavy. you should be able to stretch them enough for that, just make sure you don't go too much and make them lose their effectiveness.

After two four hour stretching sessions, I'm almost able to get them on by myself (they still cut off circulation within less than minute). I'm sure they will loosen up some more with time, but I've about decided that they will be single purpose elbow sleeves (good for a single max lift or up to a heavy 3 rep set). I really do like the support they provide. My left elbow has been giving me issues and the couple of lifts I've used the sleeves for have resulted in much less pain.

I think I will just order another set. I think I'll order some heavy instead of the super heavy and make sure they are loose enough to be worn for 30 minutes straight.

Mine are the Super Heavy. They came in on Friday and I tried for several hours and could only get them about a half inch above my elbow. When I bent my arm, my elbow would come out from under them. On Friday with my wife's help, I got them on for a max effort bench attempt. After i laid down on the bench I yelled at her to hurry and give me a lift off because my hands were already starting to tingle and minor numbness was already setting in. I want them to be tight, I would just like to be able to wear them for more than 1 set without having to take them off since they are so hard to get on. I'd also like to be able to put them on without any help. I tried turning them wrong side out and then trying to flip them to get them on, but they were too tight.

I bought the knee sleeves in the largest size available and could only get them an inch or two above my knee. Took 3 of us to get them off. I finally gave to a freind who has pretty small legs. They were 5x and fit a guy with small legs! I may try the heavy's at some point but damn!

So I went to this ex-multi millionare's house today (Big freaking house). The guy is really down on his luck but I really got the feeling he didn't want to help himself either. He was a freind of a freind so I offred to come look at his gym and give some advise on liquidating it. I also spent 45 min fixing a lifecycle bycycle for him. All this was free since he was another freind's freind. I get all done and he says I would like to give you something and hands me a case of protein gel packs. I get home and they were expired a year ago. Nice!

I wonder. I doubt he'll get them. 1). He's already got six full 255-lb sets of Yorks in pounds, with another 2 full sets of Yorks in kilos (and a third coming this summer). 2). The cl vultures have probably already swooped down on this deal. There appears to be nothing remarkable about the plates. The bar may be interesting.

I talked to the guy yesterday, I was gonna try to go tonight but someone did pick them up yesterday. At least the guy emailed me to tell me they were gone.

He was goofy though - posted those in Philly then was really shocked when I told him I was willing to come up from a Philly burb to get them. "you gonna come all the way up here from Philly to pick these up?"

Oh well.

PS - follow up on that lead I gave you for your bumpers already. I want some reps as a finder's fee.

So I went to this ex-multi millionare's house today (Big freaking house). The guy is really down on his luck but I really got the feeling he didn't want to help himself either. He was a freind of a freind so I offred to come look at his gym and give some advise on liquidating it. I also spent 45 min fixing a lifecycle bycycle for him. All this was free since he was another freind's freind. I get all done and he says I would like to give you something and hands me a case of protein gel packs. I get home and they were expired a year ago. Nice!

That is soo bad. Treating people like that is probably why he is an EX millionnaire.

I talked to the guy yesterday, I was gonna try to go tonight but someone did pick them up yesterday. At least the guy emailed me to tell me they were gone.

He was goofy though - posted those in Philly then was really shocked when I told him I was willing to come up from a Philly burb to get them. "you gonna come all the way up here from Philly to pick these up?"

Oh well.

PS - follow up on that lead I gave you for your bumpers already. I want some reps as a finder's fee.

That guy underlisted his weights and bar.

On the bumpers, I can't find the specifics in my in-box. Could you shoot them to me again and I'll make contact with the guy. Chiclets for you on recharge.

You need a rack, bench and 300-lb. Oly set. Now, what was your question?

"Get it on, Bang a gong, Get it on." - Marc Bolan and T-Rex; Power Station.

Hadn't been around in a while. Lots going on. Think I told y'all but I decided to go back to school and finish my bachelors degree last year and this is last semester. Taking 4 classes and still trying to run my business and support my family starting to take its toll on me. Only a few months left.

GMC vs FORD Update

Well after having the Ford for the last month or so I gotta say it's like no truck i've ever owned before. World of difference between the Ford and my past GMCs. Rides better, drives better, tows amazingly better. It was a very quick very emotional decision (pissed off at GMC) but It's a decision I'm really glad I made. Anyways here it is.

Haven't towed anything super heavy yet but did tow the 4-wheeler on a trailer up to Arkansas last weekend to do some riding. Couldn't even feel the trailer behind me. My wife and I have been talking about getting a Travel trailer for quite some time. The towing capacity is 7700 pounds which opens up some options in the 30 foot range that we haven't been able to look into with my old truck.

I bought the knee sleeves in the largest size available and could only get them an inch or two above my knee. Took 3 of us to get them off. I finally gave to a freind who has pretty small legs. They were 5x and fit a guy with small legs! I may try the heavy's at some point but damn!

I got the Super Heavy XXLs in both the knee and elbow sleeves. I can wear the knee sleeves for about 10 minutes before the tingling sets in and can wear them for a total of about 30 minutes before I lose feeling and have to remove them.

I bought my wife a pair of the Heavy Ms elbow sleeves and I just put one of them on my left arm (was a struggle to get it on) and my Super Heavy XXL on the right arm. My Super Heavy XXLs cut the circulation off faster than her Mediums do.

I got the Super Heavy XXLs in both the knee and elbow sleeves. I can wear the knee sleeves for about 10 minutes before the tingling sets in and can wear them for a total of about 30 minutes before I lose feeling and have to remove them.

I bought my wife a pair of the Heavy Ms elbow sleeves and I just put one of them on my left arm (was a struggle to get it on) and my Super Heavy XXL on the right arm. My Super Heavy XXLs cut the circulation off faster than her Mediums do.

The super heavys are multi- ply and have two layers (you probably knew that though). I could not even even get them on. I think they need some larger sizes and need to be realistic on their sizing description. Have you tried the Titan Ram or Slingshot for overloading your bench? Both are great products and force you to keep your elbows in.

The super heavys are multi- ply and have two layers (you probably knew that though). I could not even even get them on. I think they need some larger sizes and need to be realistic on their sizing description. Have you tried the Titan Ram or Slingshot for overloading your bench? Both are great products and force you to keep your elbows in.

I tried the Titan Ram (original version) at this years Arnold. I bought the original Slingshot at last years Arnold and recently upgraded to the new black Slingshot. I wasn't as impressed with the Ram as I have been with the slingshots (but I was limited to a few sets at this years Arnold). I would credit the slingshot with improving my bench form (elbows in) and allowing me to increase my max at a much faster rate than I would have without it. Something about just handling more weight with the slingshot makes it less of a mental obstacle once you try the weight without the slingshot. I highly recommend the slingshots

I think I'm going to grab another set of the EFS elbow sleeves. Just need to decide if I want a larger set of the double ply or a set of the single plys.

I tried the Titan Ram (original version) at this years Arnold. I bought the original Slingshot at last years Arnold and recently upgraded to the new black Slingshot. I wasn't as impressed with the Ram as I have been with the slingshots (but I was limited to a few sets at this years Arnold). I would credit the slingshot with improving my bench form (elbows in) and allowing me to increase my max at a much faster rate than I would have without it. Something about just handling more weight with the slingshot makes it less of a mental obstacle once you try the weight without the slingshot. I highly recommend the slingshots

I think I'm going to grab another set of the EFS elbow sleeves. Just need to decide if I want a larger set of the double ply or a set of the single plys.

i need to use the slingshot again- and maybe get the black one.

get the heavy elbow sleeves- single ply. those are the ones i have and would recommend.

"If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." -Thomas Paine

[]---[]Equipment Crew Member No.3[]---[]
()---() York Barbell Club #2 ()---()

Signed up last minute for a bike tour benefiting a local charity this weekend. Haven't been on my road bike all winter so this is going to be a wake up call for sure. Hit legs pretty hard today and going to take next two days completely off legs to make sure I'm recovered and ready for Saturdays ride.

damn, just finished a bench session. used weights so light i was embarrassed- even though i was in the garage alone

oh well, just getting back at it, guess i should expect that. i wasn't trying to go as heavy as possible, did 5 sets of 10 with the swiss bar. also did 5x10 on the reverse hyper and pulldowns. i'm going to ease myself back into it, i haven't trained with any real intensity or frequency in the last few months.

"If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." -Thomas Paine

[]---[]Equipment Crew Member No.3[]---[]
()---() York Barbell Club #2 ()---()

damn, just finished a bench session. used weights so light i was embarrassed- even though i was in the garage alone

oh well, just getting back at it, guess i should expect that. i wasn't trying to go as heavy as possible, did 5 sets of 10 with the swiss bar. also did 5x10 on the reverse hyper and pulldowns. i'm going to ease myself back into it, i haven't trained with any real intensity or frequency in the last few months.

I'm with you - I am ramping back up after a layoff. Finally getting to some decent weight in squats and deads - course my form went to sh*t on my second squat set this morning and I've got the heating pad on my back at work. I think my kid is adding too it, I noticed this weekend that my back was, not sore, but I was feeling it, from carrying her all day.

My bench is pathetic right now, but I want to keep it even with the row. and of course OH press is a love/hate relationship - still getting that form down.

I'm with you - I am ramping back up after a layoff. Finally getting to some decent weight in squats and deads - course my form went to sh*t on my second squat set this morning and I've got the heating pad on my back at work. I think my kid is adding too it, I noticed this weekend that my back was, not sore, but I was feeling it, from carrying her all day.

My bench is pathetic right now, but I want to keep it even with the row. and of course OH press is a love/hate relationship - still getting that form down.

i haven't squatted in a while, last time i deadlifted i used my old warm up weights for work sets. that sucked the most- deadlift is my favorite exercise. overhead pressing is probably my second, i did those monday and was weak too. i'm sure it'll come back fairly quickly, though. at least i hope! squats are later this week, i'm sure that my weights will be way down on those. i'm kinda nervous about the couple days after squats, i climb tons of stairs at work. right now, i'm mainly trying to get back into the habit of hitting the gym 4 days a week.

carrying kids definately puts a strain on your back, i remember those days.

"If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." -Thomas Paine

[]---[]Equipment Crew Member No.3[]---[]
()---() York Barbell Club #2 ()---()

Wait till you have a few teenagers in the house. The strain migrates to between the ears......

Yep. That's where I'm at now. Makes me wish for the days when the kids were little and not so froward.

(Froward is my vocabulary word for the year. It means "Stubbornly contrary and disobedient" and is frequently the perfect word for describing teenagers. When I first encountered it in a book I was reading, I thought at first that the author had simply misspelled "forward".)

It appears that he has built up a decent stock of items. I'm going to.drive there in a week or two for the fat dead lift bar and maybe one or two other things.

he's got a few things i like, but i've already got a swiss bar and cambered squat bar. honestly, i already have a trap bar too, but i wanted a rackable one and a guy on the powerlifting team likes trap bars so i thought i'd donate my old one to the team. my safety squat bar is down there too, but i didn't really use that often anyway.

Originally Posted by ndmike99

Let us know how the gun rack works with your speciality bars. I am thinking about getting one myself, but I am not sure how the swiss bar, safety squat, and cambered bars will fit.

i'm curious to see how they fit too. i'll post pics of it with the bars on it, along with the hooks and stuff.

i'll get started on my kettlebell rack this weekend, hopefully. i'm still trying to decide how i want to make it- easy concept, but i need to see where it's gonna fit in the gym the best and design it around that. i'm going to sell most of my dumbbells to a guy at work next week, just keeping my roundheads. not sure where i'm going to store them yet either, but i'll come up with something.

my wife and i are going to new orleans at the end of next month. it's our 10th anniversary and i've always wanted to go there, so my mom and stepdad offered to use some of my mom's frequent flier miles and free hotel nights for us- and they are watching the kids for a weekend. i'm pretty pumped about that. well, they didn't say we had to go to new orleans, but that's what i picked and mrs animalfan agreed. she just wants a weekend alone with me.

"If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." -Thomas Paine

[]---[]Equipment Crew Member No.3[]---[]
()---() York Barbell Club #2 ()---()

Surgery tomorrow on my wrecked knee. I'll post a picture of the mess in the next couple days.

The doc will be fixing my completely torn patella. It tore in the middle so he said he will probably implant a "new" one from a cadaver. He may or may not fix the torn ACL depending how it looks when he sees it.

Surgery tomorrow on my wrecked knee. I'll post a picture of the mess in the next couple days.

The doc will be fixing my completely torn patella. It tore in the middle so he said he will probably implant a "new" one from a cadaver. He may or may not fix the torn ACL depending how it looks when he sees it.

Wish me luck. The hard work starts after tomorrow.

Will wish you a successful and positive surgery outcome. You make your own luck, with hard work. Seeing how much work and effort you have put into your life's happenings over the past years, you should have some "luck" coming your way as you rehab.

Surgery tomorrow on my wrecked knee. I'll post a picture of the mess in the next couple days.

The doc will be fixing my completely torn patella. It tore in the middle so he said he will probably implant a "new" one from a cadaver. He may or may not fix the torn ACL depending how it looks when he sees it.

Wish me luck. The hard work starts after tomorrow.

You need a rack, bench and 300-lb. Oly set. Now, what was your question?

"Get it on, Bang a gong, Get it on." - Marc Bolan and T-Rex; Power Station.

Surgery tomorrow on my wrecked knee. I'll post a picture of the mess in the next couple days.

The doc will be fixing my completely torn patella. It tore in the middle so he said he will probably implant a "new" one from a cadaver. He may or may not fix the torn ACL depending how it looks when he sees it.

Wish me luck. The hard work starts after tomorrow.

Good luck friend. This sounds like a pretty devastating injury...nice work! Here's the good news, you oughta get some good drugs post surg.....